Horses are kept inside El Herradero Ranch, where nine people, including six law enforcement officers, were arrested in October on charges of operating an illegal horse racing track in Crosby.

Horses are kept inside El Herradero Ranch, where nine people, including six law enforcement officers, were arrested in October on charges of operating an illegal horse racing track in Crosby.

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Staff

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Thousands in cash exchanged at illegal Crosby race track

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One of nine people arrested during a weekend raid at an illegal horse racing and gambling operation oversaw the northeast Harris County business, officials said Monday.

Reginaldo Mandujano, 53, of Humble, also owned the 70-acre property that drew dozens of people to the Crosby track on Saturdays where thousands of dollars were exchanged, officials said.

The nine arrested, including six licensed peace officers, were released on $5,000 bail each after being charged with conducting a gambling racing enterprise without a license.

Harris County prosecutor Angela Weltin said the enterprise was very lucrative but done on a cash basis, which is difficult to trace.

According to tax records, Mandujano and his wife, Marie, own the ranch property off Sralla Road, valued at $281,000 and bearing the name "Rancho El Herradero." The property includes a starting gate, fenced track, equipment for determining a photo finish, stadium seating, barns and concession stands.

In 2007, Mandujano filed notice in the Secretary of State's office, naming himself director of a newly formed corporation, El Herradero Ranch Inc. It stated that its purpose was to do "any and all lawful business" allowed in Texas.

Surveillance video recorded streams of trailers hauling horses, whose owners wanted to race to test for speed. Each horse and rider would wear a different color, line up and then race down the track.

The crowd did not place bets at a window, but exchanged money among themselves before each race, Weltin said.

The six peace officers were paid an unspecified amount of cash to provide security for what authorities say was an illegal enterprise. Weltin added that some officers provided spectators with racing tips and a couple of officers even placed bets themselves.

Defense attorney Burt Springer, who represents two Harris County precinct 1 deputy constables charged in this case, said officers are being unfairly tarnished.

His clients, Joel Garcia, 31, of Pasadena, and Secar Rangel, 34, of Houston, contend they never knew betting occurred there. Springer said the two thought they were providing security for a "Hispanic rodeo."

If someone handed someone money in front of them, it could have been for a soft drink or anything, Springer said.

"It's like charging the Swiss Guard for something the Pope did," he said.

Garcia and Rangel, as well as two Fort Bend County Precinct 2 reserve deputy constables, 34-year-old Edward Scott of Humble and David Green, 37, of Missouri City,have been fired since being charged.

A DPS trooper, Richard Rivera, 57, of Spring, was suspended until the case against him is resolved. He has worked 20 years as a trooper and was employed at the mega driver's license center in Spring.

Impersonation charges

The trooper's wife, Consuelo Alvarez Rivera, 61, is accused of heading the track's security and impersonating a police officer.

She has no police certification, but was seen wearing a generic police uniform with a fake badge and a handgun in a holster.

An indictment states that once she used her police authority to warn a race spectator, welshing on a bet with another spectator, that he better "pay up."

The last officer charged, Carlos Garza, 64, of Humble, is registered as a Precinct 4 reserve deputy constable in Maverick County near the border. That constable's office was closed for Columbus Day.

The ninth person charged was Diana Marie Salinas, 19, of Houston. Authorities say she was paid to collect admittance fees and distribute programs.

Quarter horses found grazing on the ranch property were inspected by state veterinarians, who determined no abuse had occurred and left them there.

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